Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Anyone had surgery?

Hi @michellr,
I just wanted to check in and see how you are doing?

Hi @michellr
I'm so sorry to hear how stressful this is for you and hope you are taking measures to manage the stress.

As for getting treatment at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Pochettino, an aortic surgery expert at Mayo would be happy to review your records to understand your situation and determine what type of cardiac surgery needs to be performed. To begin this process, please call Dr. Pochettino's patient appointment secretary, Hope Nesbit at 507-255-2000. After determining what type of surgery is needed, Ms Nesbit will connect you to our business office to speak about insurance options.

Here's a video Dr. Pochettino made explaining what patients need to know about aortic surgery

I hope this helps. Keep talking with us. You're not alone.

UC isn't chopped liver. Neither is Rush. If you can find a way to go to Mayo a big plus is the social worker arm of their organization to grease the wheels for your trip and recovery. But maybe UC or Rush has something like that too. Rush is in a wicked neighborhood as is UC. This is a big deal. You want things to go smoothly, and they will.

You would have a hard time going to Mayo since you have an HMO ...You have the University of Chicago near and they would probably send you there...http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/heart/services/genetics/conditions.html

Settle down. You're going to be alright. Your blood pressure is under control right? Control as in systolic

Thank you. I am very aftraid of the surgery and to make matters worse I am a cardiac nurse! I am afraid of a stroke, PE, and death during surgery and sudden death if i dont. Do i just go to a local surgeon , i live in Chicago area, or do i go somewhere else. This is stressing out my life. I have humana hmo. Can i even go somewhere like mayo

Hi @michellr,
Welcome to Connect. I moved your message to this discussion to introduce you to other Connect members who are talking about thoracic aneurysm. Interestingly @aldona like you felt it was like having a time bomb inside her. @jbsb93 opted to have surgery while @clevelandme decided against it.

I'm also tagging Bruce (@ch246cf10) to bring him into the conversation.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ask questions here with people who have "been there". Sometimes it just helps to write it down.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

I am 54 yrs old. Diagnosed with thoracic aneurysm. In 8 mos it grew from 4.3 to 4.8. I am scared to death. Anyone out there had the surgery. I dont know which is worse, the bomb in my chest or the stroke i might have diring surgery!

Was fled to hear that. I had follow ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. The told me to come back on a year now. I am limited to not lifting over 100 lbs. and do not exert myself. I can live with that. I hope that you do well too.
Good Luck!

Hi John, I was diagnosed a year and a half ago with the same thing. Mine is 4.6 cm and also dissected. They wanted to do emergency surgery. I told them I felt good and I wanted to get a
Second opinion. They took me to another hospital. I was there for about 4 days. They did all the test again and it ended up with us keeping an eye on it. No surgery, I did a 3 month, 6 month and a one year check up, and now the told me to come back in a year. I was glad to hear this. They told me not to lift over 100 pounds and do not exert myself. I just try to be careful and do what they tell me. I know I can live with this. Hope you do ok too. Good Luck!